22 new cases of skin cancer every year

A total of 201 new cases of melanoma were reported in the nine-year period to 2001, averaging a total of 22 cases a year, statistics released by the Association of Dermatology and Venereology showed yesterday.

Of these cases, 55 per cent involved women. The majority of the cases, 44 per cent, were reported in people aged between 35 and 60 years.

Association president Joseph Pace said the worrying thing was that melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, was on the increase.

Although the incidence of melanoma in Malta was less than that in northern European countries, the island had a marginally higher incidence than Mediterranean neighbours like Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal.

However, the good news was that between 2000 and last year the mortality rate of those who had melanoma had taken a downward trend.

Dr Pace was addressing a press conference to promote the Euro-Melanoma skin cancer campaign which Malta will be marking along with the rest of Europe on Monday.

He was flanked by association vice-presidents Dr Lawrence Scerri, head of the department of dermatology at Boffa Hospital, and Dr Michael Boffa, consultant with the department.

In his presentation, Dr Scerri said this was the third year that Malta was taking part in this campaign and it was vital for those who had suspicious-looking moles or pigmented lesions to go to Boffa Hospital on "Melanoma Monday" and have them checked.

Though the department always carried out such check-ups, on Monday the public was being encouraged to make an appointment and have their suspicious moles seen to.

Dr Scerri said the patient data gathered on the day would be sent to Belgium for statistical evaluation as part of the European pool of data.

Dr Pace said the dangers of the sun and skin cancer would be discussed at length at the first European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Malta would be hosting this first event to be held between February 27 and March 1 of next year with the participation of about 1,500 experts.

"This will be the largest congress ever to come to Malta and it will be a bridge of learning between experiences and incidents that occur in countries such as Australia, Europe, South America and the US," he said.

Delving into the problem of melanoma in Malta, Dr Pace said it was sad that the unions, who fought so hard for workers` rights, did not insist on having safety measures introduced for those who worked outdoors.

Yesterday`s message at the press conference was loud and clear: prevention and early diagnosis were the only way out. Once the melanoma spreads, there is no turning back.

And if you thought that covering yourself with suntan lotion with a sun protection factor of four or six was any protection against the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun, think twice.

"Such low protection factor is like throwing your money away, the minimum protection factor of a suntan lotion should be at least 15," Dr Pace said.

Describing the properties of melanoma, Dr Boffa said it commonly appeared on the back of men and was more likely to appear on the legs in women.

Melanoma appears as an irregular brown/black lump or patch anywhere on the skin or may develop on a pre-existing mole which changes in size, colour or shape.

Various factors are to blame for the increasing number of sun related cancers in the past few years, most notably the thinning of the ozone layer and an increase in the sunbathing culture.

Melanoma was more likely to occur in somebody with fair, freckled skin than in somebody with dark skin. Persons with numerous moles are also at higher risk.

The link between melanoma and sun exposure is separated by a period of anything between 15 and 40 years. In view of this, sun protection and sun avoidance should start early in children.

And if you thought a tan was a sign of health and good looks you had better think again. Tanning was a response to injury because the sun killed some cells on contact and injured others, Dr Boffa said.

Dr Pace said it was hard to eradicate the mentality promoted by many that a tan was healthy but inroads were slowly being made.

Dr Scerri said education campaigns in schools were vital and the media and parents had a role to play in this.

Another step in the right direction would be for the daily weather forecast to add the UV index and inform the public on how strong the sun was each day.

The melanoma skin cancer screening clinic will be open to the public free of charge on Monday at Boffa Hospital. It was important to make an appointment by calling on tel. 22987127.

Dr Scerri said that during last year`s campaign over 100 people had turned up in one day to check the state of their skin.